The Differences Between Spinal Stenosis and Foraminal Stenosis.

When the spinal nerves in the lumbar area of the back are being compressed, it can be a result of lumbar spinal stenosis. Do to alterations in the blood vessels that drain blood from the area the cauda equina between the stenosis levels become congested. By preventing the nerve roots from conducting effectively, this congestion will affect people more while walking. There can be a great deal of pain in the buttocks, thighs and legs when this happens. Numbness or weakness may accompany this pain.

Quite often a patient's ability to walk will be severely limited and rarely become debilitating to the point that the patient will stop walking. After a five to ten minute period of rest this discomfort will usually subside. Pain can also be alleviated by lying down with the legs flexed, sitting or squatting. These activities help to increase the area of the spinal canal that is congested. Often beginning in the lower legs these symptoms may progress into the buttocks although it may happen in the reverse order starting in the buttocks and working is way down the legs which is referred to as “sensory march". Along with this “sensory march" low back pain is also a common complaint of patients suffering from foraminal stenosis. Often beginning on one side of the body these symptoms may progress and affect both sides. This may be referred to by your doctor as neurogenic claudication.

Men tend to be affected more often by neurogenic claudication then women and this is usually more prevalent after the age of fifty. A comfort zone is usually achieved as people decrease their walking distance which typically will be at least one hundred meters. It is unfortunate that this condition is lifelong and often progressive. Sometimes non-surgical methods can be explored and provide adequate relief from the pain of foraminal stenosis such as pain management, physical therapy and other methods. There are surgeries that can be preformed to widen the spinal canal and this may become a viable option if your symptoms continue to worsen and the pain and lifestyle reduction become too painful.

There is a difference between neurogenic claudication from decreased blood flow to the lower extremities and calcified blood vessels (peripheral vascular disease) and it is important that your doctor is able to differentiate this. This can be easy to miss as the condition affects older people and has similar symptoms. One of the differences in peripheral vascular disease is that these symptoms are typically not relieved by a person's change in their posture. Peripheral vascular disease will not show any signs of sensory march symptoms either.

Pain extending down the leg area that corresponds to an affected nerve can be caused by lumbar spinal stenosis as the foramina becomes narrow and more pressure is placed on the affected nerve root. Because of this foraminal stenosis is classed as a form of lumbar spinal stenosis which can exist along with cervical stenosis and classic claudication symptoms. Although it usually takes about six to twelve months for recovery, foraminal stenosis may respond to conservative treatment methods. If conservative treatment methods fail and there is severe pain or lifestyle activity reduction, surgical options to widen the foraminal area may become more desirable.

Author : Markus Sturgeon
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